PEOPLE WHO EAT DARKNESS : THE TRUE STORY OF A YOUNG WOMAN WHO VANISHED FROM THE STREETS OF TOKYO-AND THE EVIL THAT SWALLOWED HER UP
by Richard Lloyd Parry

Lucie Blackman was a tall, blonde, twenty-one year old who moved to Tokyo from London in May of 2000. She went with her best friend, Louise Phillips. The two of them had known each other since the age of thirteen. They were working as stewardesses for British Airways. Lucie loved her job, at first, due to all of the international cities that she was able to see. But then the hours got to her and her pay was pretty dismal. She began to incur debt and couldn't seem to climb out of it. When Louise's older sister, Emma, told the girls about how they could earn a great deal of money by working in Tokyo, they jumped on it. Their jobs would be "bar hostesses" which basically meant lighting the customers' cigarettes, pouring them drinks, listening to them talk. They told their parents that they would be living with Louise's aunt rent-free. They figured this would placate them. The only thing was that the Japanese aunt did not live in Tokyo but in south London. Instead, the girls got a room at the Sasaki House which was a guesthouse for foreigners. It was pretty disgusting. Within a few days, Lucie and Louise were working at a nightclub called Casablanca. Everyone liked the two girls but especially Lucie. She was happy with the job and got along quite well with the customers (salarymen). In order to bring the men back to the club, all of the hostesses were told to collect their business cards, and to telephone and e-mail them. The girls had to go on dinner dates (dohan) with men (whether they liked them or not) and it was mandatory. It was on one of these dates that Lucie disappeared.
People Who Eat Darkness is quite a masterpiece of writing. It took the author ten years to gather up all the information needed and he did one hell of a job. The book is quite a page-turner. In three days I read the entire thing (434 pages). It's dark, creepy, chilling and you just cannot tear your eyes away. True crime at its best.
Very highly recommended.